Q&A with a Pro Mixer
Live hangout - ask me anything!
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:43 Preamp under $700? Universal mic for tracking vocals & DI tracking bass/guitar
00:02:03 Thoughts on what will make good mix today vs. in 15 years?
00:05:16 Using outboard gear vs. plugins during tracking
00:08:53 How to achieving a perfectly balanced mix, level wise
00:11:49 Do you first level the signals and then apply compression to reduce the dynamics of recorded tracks?
00:13:52 Tracking metal rhythm guitars in a 2 guitar band: each guitarists record L & R, or 1 guitarist to play both channels?
00:16:14 A great song is the most important piece of gear in the studio - can you talk about producing bands' songs?
00:18:11 Background noise after compressing a track?
00:18:49 Building your studio from the studs, what would you focus on the most?
00:22:36 Mixing on headphones exclusively
00:24:13 Monitor alternatives to NS10s/CLA10s
00:24:30 Going to college for audio production/music technology
00:25:32 Tackling peak resonances & dead spots in bass guitar while mixing? How to deal with the presence of recorded bass not fitting the song?
00:27:59 Blending a snare sample with the original
00:29:06 Mic'ing guitar cab for high gain metal guitar tone
00:30:24 Setting the VTPC on CLA10s
00:31:50 Landing your first client
00:34:15 Getting higher paying clients ($400+)
00:35:36 Atmos: future or fad?
00:36:00 Do I need to enable the phase button on one mic every time when recording stereo acoustic guitar
00:37:15 How would you approach finding your first client if you were starting from scratch?
00:39:13 Do you send a raw or EQ'd/compressed track to parallel compression bus?
00:39:36 Thoughts on Steven Slate Drums? What drum sampler do you prefer?
00:40:46 Getting more aggressive vocals - can I use distortion?
00:41:06 Studio producer to FOH. Feel like it has made me better at studio mixing - thoughts?
00:42:23 PT Carbon vs. Apogee interface
00:44:24 Is the preamp or A/D converter more important?
00:45:53 How do you know when your mixing is getting better?
00:46:54 Do you mix songs you don't like?
00:47:48 How to determine the general LO-HI balance on an individual track?
00:49:00 How to make each instrument sound distinctive, but all part of the mix?
00:51:05 Go-to compressor for electric guitar
00:51:38 Why don't you route your drum FXs (verb and crush) to drum bus?
00:52:23 For songs that switch between fast double-time beats & big, slower choruses - how do you manage the low end?
00:54:03 Automate master fade to make a big climax hit harder?
00:55:12 CLA Vocal Comp Blue setting for vocals, Black for drums. Do you ever switch?
00:56:56 Do you have drummers track in parts/sections?
00:57:40 Use a DI box in front of interface when tracking guitars/bass, or is plugging directly into my interface?
00:59:17 Should I get out of mixing for a living?
01:02:37 Do you use mixing templates?
01:03:01 How many hours a day do you sleep?
01:04:36 Do you do mix reviews for a fee?
01:05:06 What is your mix process?
☛ Learn the go-to starting points for EQ & compression in heavy mixes with my FREE Mixing Cheatsheet: https://hardcoremusicstudio.com/mixch...
Music I’ve Worked On: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6I7...
Website: https://hardcoremusicstudio.com
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MY FAVORITE GEAR:
Computer / Interface:
Mac M1 Studio Max https://sweetwater.sjv.io/anOMOo
Avid Carbon https://sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQ6M6g
Apogee Duet 3 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/y2qXqb
Monitors / Headphones:
Avantone CLA-10a https://sweetwater.sjv.io/WqyMyZ
Audio Technica ATH-M50 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/PyOMON
Microphones:
Shure SM57 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/daOMy7
AKG D112 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/Kj0MBy
Sennheiser e604 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/DKyvWa
Shure SM7b https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5g5vk3
AKG C451b https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jre9Rv
Shure SM81 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eK1LnD
Audio Technica AT4050 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/JzKMqr
Preamps/Outboard:
API 3124 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/eK1LRD
EL8 Distressor https://sweetwater.sjv.io/XYmMd4
Favorite Plugins:
BSA Clipper https://blacksaltaudio.com/clipper
Escalator https://blacksaltaudio.com/escalator
Low Control https://blacksaltaudio.com/low-control
Waves SSL Bundle https://waves.alzt.net/dMd4q
Waves CLA Compressors https://waves.alzt.net/0va0P
Waves Platinum https://waves.alzt.net/jxz2M
Slate Trigger 2 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MmAM53
SoundToys Rack https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkLgyd
Auto-tune Pro https://sweetwater.sjv.io/OreMYr
Vocalign Project https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkLgyA
Cranesong Phoenix II https://sweetwater.sjv.io/PyOMrz
Instruments / Amps:
Ludwig Black Beauty Snare https://sweetwater.sjv.io/1r9vDR
Gibson Les Paul https://sweetwater.sjv.io/B0nvz1
Evertune Guitars https://sweetwater.sjv.io/WqyM6P
Fender Jazz Bass https://sweetwater.sjv.io/nLX5R6
Sansamp Bass Driver DI https://sweetwater.sjv.io/OreM9Q
EVH 5150 https://sweetwater.sjv.io/4PGvr9
Mesa 2x12 cab https://sweetwater.sjv.io/75avGA